Karen,
I scarified mine first a bit on a nail file, just until I started to see a lighter color.
Mine floated for DAYS. Then slowly started sinking over a 3 day period.
Then I forgot about it, and when I remembered, there was almost no water in the cup, and when I filled it up, saw the sprout.
Tink, lotus can send out runners YARDS long. In NC my native lotus sent a runner out the length of the pond, which was about 15 feet. Then it made a u-turn and started making it's way back.
If I hadn't noticed a few little lotus leaves that didn't belong there, I wouldn't have know because the lily pads obscured my view. And thank goodness the runner didn't get into any lily pots....then it would have rooted in and taken over the lily pot(s). THAT is how lotus get where they don't belong. And like I said...I didn't notice. But the runner did have little pads up here and there...but mostly covered by and competing a LOT with the lily pads. The Mother plant wasn't doing much at the other end, probably putting all it's energy into making that huge, long runner!
This is how I learned that lotus need bigger pots than oil pans or dish pans....mine was in one. Needed more room in less than 2 months. So it went into a 10 gallon bucket with a handle...than lasted another 2-3 months before it outgrew that pot.
From then on...I grew lotus in half barrels.
Growing lotus in small pots is like raising your child in a broom closet.